Track-sanding device.



PATENTED AUG. 29, 190-5.

J. E. HOLGOMB TRACK SANDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG,22,1904.

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TRACK-SANDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1905.

Application filed December 22, 1904. Serial No. 237,919-

To (LIT/Z whom, it Wtay concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. HoLooMB, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Winsted, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track- Sanding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a device of the class specified having features of novelty and advantage.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing part of a car-wheel resting on a rail and the arrangement of the sanding device with respect thereto. Fig. 2 is a central section of my track-sanding apparatus on enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a view of the connecting-flange.

Referring to the drawings, (4 denotes the car-wheel; b, the rail; 0, the sand-box.

d denotes the sanding device as a whole; 6, the sand-pipe leading to the said box; f, the air-pipe leading to the controlling-valve g, which is located convenient to the operator.

My sanding device comprises a sand-tube (Z, connected to the sand-pipe e, as by the nut d and is provided with a valve d to control the fall of the sand. The valve-stem 6Z4 carries at its lower end a cleaning device (i which cleans the open end of the sand-tube. The valve is operated by air-pressure in the following manner: The sand-tube and an aircylinder d are flanged, as at 0F, and fitted and secured together in any convenient manner, as by screws. The sand-tube and aircylinder have registering apertures d d 11 included within the flanges, forming a connecting-passage k between them. The air-cylinder (Z is provided with a piston cl, whose rod d is joined to the valve-stem cl by the connection d, which is of a size adapted to move freely in the passage is. The air-cylinder is connected with the air-pipe f, as by the nut 6 The air-pressure is controlled by the valve 9. It will be seen that when the pressure is admitted to the piston the piston will move down, opening the valve 03 and carrying the cleaner d down, so that it will clear the end of the tube for the passage of the sand. The piston and-its rod, the connection 6F, and the valve-stem cl have acontinuous air-passage h, terminating in a restricted opening 6 in the valve-stem. This air-jet directs the sand onto the rail just in front of the wheel, but is not of sufficient size to relieve the pressure on the piston to such an extent as to interfere with its proper operation. This vent also operates as a relief when the air is cutoff and the piston returned to its normal position. In order to return the piston to its normal position after the air is cut off, I provide the spring (Z which surrounds an extension on the piston-rod, this extension being chambered, as at al to receive a pin d, which acts as a guide.

I prefer to join the piston-rod with the valve-stem by means of the I connection 0Z (shown in Fig. 2,) into which the valve, the valve-stem, the piston-rod, and the piston-rod extension can be screwed, the I connection being cored out to form apart of the air-passage 7a.

The operation of the device is extremely simple and will readily be understood from an examination of the drawings and the above description.

A sanding device constructed in accordance with my invention has many features of advantage over the sanding devices now in use. In the first place I provide an automaticallyoperating means for cleaning the end of. the sand-tube, which often becomes clogged. especially in cold weather and when there is snow. It will also be noted that the valve which controls the fall of the sand is but a short distance from the end of the tube, the sand-pipe being always full above the valve, thus insuring a quick delivery of the sand in cases of emergency. The air-jet directs the sand onto the rail immediately in front of the wheel, counteracting any tendency a side wind might have to blow the sand off of the rail. The arrangement for operating the valveis simple and positive in its action and insures a proper working of the device.

My track-sanding device can be used in connection with the ordinary sand-box, many of which are provided with a slide-valve, such as m, covering the outlet and operated by a handle a, which is placed conveniently near the car operator, and this valve can be used in connection with my air-operated valve or not, as desired.

I claim as my invention 1. In a track-sanding device in combination, a sand-box, a normally open sand-tube leading from said box, a sand-valve in said tube at a distance from its end, means adapted for downward movement to clean the open end of said tube and operative as the valve is opened, and means for operating said cleaner.

2. In a track-sanding device a sand-box, a normally open sand-tube leading from said box, a sand-valve in said tube at a distance from its end, and means adapted for down- Ward movement to clean the open end of said tube and operative automatically as the valve is opened, substantially as described.

3. Inatrack-sanding deviceasand-tube having a valve-seat near its lower end, a downwardly-opening sand-valve, a tube-cleaning device carried by said valve-stem below said valve, and means for moving saidv valve.

4. In a track-sanding device a sand-tube having a valve-seat, a downwardly-opening sandvalve, a tube-cleaner located in said tube and secured to the valve-stem below'said valve, and means for moving said valve to carry said cleaner to the open end of said tube.

5. In a track-sanding device,the open-endedsand-tube, a sand-valve located near the lower end thereof, a cleaning device secured to said valve-stem below said valve, and means for operating saidvalve.

6. In atrack-sanding device, the sand-tube, a valve located near the lower end-of said'tube, and an air-blast for directing the sand as it falls fromthe tube onto the track directly'in front of the wheel.

7. In a track-sanding device the sand-pipe, a valve located near the lower end thereof, a cylindersecured to said, sand-pipe, said cylinder and pipe having registering openings through their sides forming acommunicating passage, a piston and piston-rod in said cylcylinder secured to-said sand-pipe, said cyl-j a valve located near the lower end thereof,'a 1

cylindersecured to said sand-pipe, said cyllnder and pipe having registering openings through their sldes forming a communicating passage, a piston and piston-rod in said cylinder, connections between said piston-rod and the. valve-stem, means for: actuating said piston, and a continuous air-passage from said piston to the lower end of the'valve-stem.

10. Atrack-sanding device adapted to be secured to a sand-pipe, including a sand-tube and a cylinder secured together and having registering openings in their sides forming a communicating passage between the two, a valve in said sand-tube, a cleaner secured to the end of the valve-stem and'located near the outlet-orifice of said'tube, a piston and pistonrod' in said cylinder, connections between said piston-rod and said valve-stem, connect-ions between-said cylinder anda controllingvalve, a guideifor said piston-rod, and means to return the partst'o their normal position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. HOLCOMB.

Witnesses:

H. E. HART, D. S. KREIMENDAHL. 

